Mousavi vows to continue anti-govt. protests in Iran

Published: Tuesday, July 7, 2009, 12:17 [IST]

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Tehran, July 7 (ANI): Iranian opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi has vowed to continue his campaign against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's illegitimate government, but "in the framework of the law."

"When a government doesn't take shape within the framework of the law, it has no legitimacy in the eyes of the people. This weakens the government and encourages the government to resort to violence against the people," The Star Online quoted Mousavi, as saying.

"That protests subsided or were silenced doesn't remove the basis of the matter. I think this opposition movement will continue. We need to make efforts to show our protest within the framework of the law," he said after greeting well wishers on Monday for a holiday commemorating Shiism's greatest saint, Imam Al.

Nevertheless, his comments indicated that he was abandoning massive street protests after they were quashed by a tough crackdown.

Stating that he intends to "work with a group in an organized way," he suggested that he may set up a political party.

Since the crackdown, the dramatic marches that filled main streets after the disputed June 12 presidential elections have vanished.

Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has expressed his determination to refrain control over the country's affairs.

Khamenei issued a sharp warning to Western nations not to criticize Iran over its crackdown, saying relations will suffer if they are seen as "meddling."

He said Iranians would "unite against their enemies into one fist."

His warning appeared to be directed at world powers gathering at the G8 summit in Rome this week, who are to consider a coordinated response to Iran's turmoil.

In another sign of the regime's new toughness, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard acknowledged for the first time that the elite force - controlled by Khamenei - played the key role in putting an end to street protests. (ANI)